I do love the sun! Just 20 mins a day is enough to give us our recommended daily levels for Vitamin D. But, when I’m in the sun, I do make sure to cover up my face with a huge hat and sun glasses (to avoid those dark spots us Asians get…they are our ‘wrinkles’)….vanity! LOL.
Beware of chemicals in most sunblock lotions. Instead, we can EAT our sunblock. Here are some raw, vegan, gluten-free super foods that are high in antioxidants to help destroy free radical damage from the sun:
- Spinach, kale, broccoli, carrots (lutein) – Dr Salvador Gonsalez of Harvard University says “our data is the first of its kind to suggest that lutein may have the potential to act as a preventative agent against UVB-induced skin cancer. In addition, these data suggest that lutein protects the skin against damage caused by exposure to UVB light, further validating our position that lutein is a critical component to overall skin health.” A study in the International Journal of Cancer found that a serving a day of leafy greens reduces the recurrence of skin cancer tumors in patients by more than 50%!
- Green tea, black tea, cacao (polyphenols)
- Brazil nuts (selenium)
- Tomatoes (lycopene)
- Chia, flax, walnuts, algaes like chlorella and spiraling (omega 3s)
So eat up, and get outside! Summers here, and there are many fun trails to hike…like this one in Joshua Tree National Park…my favorite place on Earth!
